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Hearty + Cheesy Baked Penne Casserole (Kid-Friendly!)

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If your family is looking for a comforting, hearty meal on a busy weeknight, this baked penne needs to be at the top of the list! It’s a family favorite in my house (even with my pickiest eater!), and I know it will be in your house too.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 12 ounces penne pasta
  • 1 lb ground sweet Italian sausage
  • 1 pound ground beef
  • ½ cup chopped onion
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 jars (about 24 oz each) marinara sauce – I prefer Rao’s*
  • 2 teaspoons dried Italian seasoning
  • 2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
  • 2 cups grated mozzarella cheese
  • chopped fresh parsley, for garnish

Instructions

Cook the sausage, beef and onion in a large pot or deep skillet until browned and cooked through. Add the garlic and cook for another 30 seconds.

Add the marinara sauce, Italian seasoning, and 1 cup Parmesan cheese. Stir and simmer for about 15 minutes.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. 

While the meat mixture is simmering, cook the pasta according to package directions. Don’t overcook or it will become mushy. Drain the pasta and add to the sauce mixture. Add 1 cup mozzarella cheese and stir. 

Pour into a greased 9×13” baking dish. Top with the remaining parmesan and mozzarella cheese. 

Bake for about 20 minutes or until the cheese is melted. Enjoy!

Notes

This recipe serves 10-12 people. Smaller families may want to divide this meal into two casserole dishes and freeze one for later.